- Partial Sun to Full Sun (At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight)
- Mature Height 2 - 4 Feet
- Mature Spread 2 - 4 Feet
- Growing Zones 2 - 8
Sweetfern, or Comptonia peregrina, is a small aromatic perennial known for the elaborate patterns of its deep green, textured fronds. Every spring, Sweetfern sends out an army of sweet-smelling fiddleheads, which unfurl from their snug coils of delicate olive green foliage. The flowers are brown to burgundy catkins that appear before the leaves unfold. A small nut is enfolded within. With an impressive spread of 4 to 8 feet, the Sweetfern is between 2 and 4 feet tall.
Native to the eastern North America, the low-growing Sweetfern has a mounding, upright habit that is excellent for groundcover. They are low-maintenance, vigorous growers that are drought tolerant and tenacious. They colonize quickly by forming spores on the surface of the fronds. It is a host plant for the Gray Hairstreak butterfly, as well as a wide variety of moths. It is deer and critter resistant.
Sweetfern Care
Plant your Sweetfern in full to partial sunlight. It uses average water. Sweetfern prefers moist, sandy soil with good drainage, but once established, it can survive in dry, sandy conditions. To keep the soil moist and cool, add a generous layer of mulch to your Sweetfern. Additionally, each year, you can apply well-rotted manure or compost to your ferns. However, concentrated fertilizer should not be applied, as it can burn the surface roots of your plants. If your Sweetfern is potted, use a controlled-release fertilizer option.
To prune your Sweetfern, cut off any misshapen or broken fronds. This can be done at any time of year. If you live in a colder area, leave the spent foliage attached to the plant throughout the winter to protect its crown, and instead, remove them when spring bulbs emerge.
Sweetfern Spacing
The Sweetfern is an excellent option for providing a hardy groundcover. They are best planted en masse and can thrive in moist and shady areas. You should space your Sweetfern at least 3 feet apart from center to center to give them plenty of room to grow.
Sweetfern Information
| USDA Hardiness Zones: 2 - 8 |
| Plant Type: Bushes |
| Light Exposure: Partial Sun to Full Sun (At Least 5 Hours of Direct Sunlight) |
| Mature Height: 2 - 4 Feet |
| Mature Spread: 4 - 8 Feet |
| Spacing: 4 - 8 Feet |
| Habit: Spreading, Trailing, Upright |
| Flower Color(s): Yellow |
| Flower Description: |
| Bloom Period: |
| Foliage Type: Deciduous |
| Foliage Color(s): Green |
| Foliage Description: |
| Seasonal Interest: Spring Flowering, Summer Flowering, Fall Flowering |
| Watering: Average |
| Resists: Deer |
| Tolerates: Drought |
| Attracts: Bees, Butterflies, Hummingbirds |
| Container Role: |
| Uses: Groundcovers, Mass Planting, Wildlife Gardens |
| Features: Attracts Pollinators, Foliage Interest, Fragrant, Low Maintenance, Native to North America |
| Brand: |
| Common Name: Sweetfern |
| Other Name(s): |
| Scientific Name: COMPTONIA PEREGRINA |
- SKU:
- 1231002748-pc
Container Sizes
Please Note: The pictures below are to give a general representation of the different container sizes. The actual size/ages of plants are estimates and will vary based on; type of plant, time of year, last pruning & many other factors.
4.5" Pot
Also Known As:
4.5" Container
Plant Age:
~ 6 months
Plant Size:
~ 3"-6"
Pot Size:
~ 4.5"H x 3.75"W
Volume:
1.42 quarts
Quart Pot
Also Known As:
Quart
Plant Age:
~ 6 months - 1 year
Plant Size:
~ 4"-8"
Pot Size:
~ 4.75"H x 4.5"W
Volume:
1.50 quarts
2.5 Quart
Also Known As:
2.5 Quart Pot
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 8"-12"
Pot Size:
~ 6.5"H x 6.5"W
Volume:
2.20-2.30 quarts
#1 Pot
Also Known As:
#1 Container
1 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1 - 2 years old
Plant Size:
~ 10"-14"
Pot Size:
~ 7"H x 7.75"W
Volume:
2.26-3.73 quarts
#2 Pot
Also Known As:
#2 Container
2 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 1.5 - 3 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-18"
Pot Size:
~ 9.5"H x 9.5"W
Volume:
1.19-1.76 gallons
#3 Pot
Also Known As:
#3 Container
3 Gallon
Plant Age:
~ 2 - 4 years old
Plant Size:
~ 12"-30"
Pot Size:
~9.5"H x 11"W
Volume:
2.32-2.76 gallons
For more detailed information, please click here.
Plant Addicts Guarantee (Included On All Plant Orders)
Plant Addicts always guarantees your plant(s) will arrive happy & healthy. However, plant(s) are being shipped through the mail & sometimes accidents happen. If the plant is dead, has dried out roots or the incorrect item was shipped, just notify Plant Addicts within 3 days upon delivery. We may ask for pictures but will try to make it as easy as possible for you. Please note, plant(s) with damaged branches or wilted leaves will not qualify for this guarantee. Plants are very resilient and will rebound quickly when cared for correctly.
For more information on how to care for your new plants, please click on our guide below.
Guide: How to Care for Your New Plant(s)
Plant Addicts Warranty - 1 Year (Extra Purchase Required)
We encourage all plant lovers to purchase the Plant Addicts Warranty, whether you're a new gardener or an expert. There are many variables outside of anyone's control that can cause a plant to die. Hungry animals, drought, poor soil conditions, over watering, diseases & pests are all good examples of what can cause plants to die. The Plant Addicts Warranty is a 1 year warranty protecting you from all of the unknowns and will replace your plant if something were to happen to it.
The warranty is purchased on a per plant basis and must be purchased at the same time as the plant(s). We will cover 100% of the price of the plant, but the warranty does not cover shipping costs. SImply let us know if your plant has died within 1 year of receiving it and we will get you a new one shipped out as soon as possible (depending on the time of the year and availability). We may ask for photos for documentation purposes, but we try to make the process as easy as possible.
For more information, please click on our page below.
Plant Shipping
Below are some factors we consider when determining when to ship the plants depending on the timing of the order.
Winter to Early Spring
We ship only when it's warm enough to plant in your growing zone.
Sometimes plants aren't completely ready to sell and ship in early spring. We will wait until the plants are ready before shipping so you don't get a subpar product.
For Southern plants we will be able to ship much earlier than plants coming from our northern nursery.
Summer
If there is extreme heat we may delay shipping for a week or several weeks.
We review what areas the plants are traveling through as well as your location.
Fall into Winter
We’ll ship plants out all the way up to the end of the fall planting season!
Winter
Get your order in early to reserve your plants for Spring planting!
Once your plant is shipped you’ll receive an automated email with tracking information.
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Planter Shipping
Standard Colors: 2-3 business days
Special Order Colors: 8 weeks - this is due to the planter being custom made with the color(s) of your choice
Please Note: On special orders there can not be any cancellations